Toxins are produced by bacteria, plants and animals for defense or for predation. Most of the toxins specifically affect the mammalian nervous system by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses, and such toxins have the potential for misuse by the military or terrorist organizations. This review discusses the origin, structure, toxicity and symptoms, transmission, mechanism(s) of action, symptomatic treatment of the most important toxins and venoms derived from fungi, plants, marine animals, and microorganisms, along with their potential for use in bioweapons and/or biocrime. Fungal trichothecenes and aflatoxins are potent inhibitors of protein synthesis in most eukaryotes and have been used as biological warfare agents. Ricin and abrin are plant-derived toxins that prevent the elongation of polypeptide chains. Saxitoxin, anatoxin, and tetrodotoxin are marine-derived toxins that bind to sodium channels in nerve and muscle tissue and cause muscle paralysis. Most bacterial toxins, such as botulinum and Shiga affect either the nervous system (neurotoxins) or damage cell membranes. Batrachotoxins, which are secreted by poison-dart frogs are extremely potent cardiotoxic and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloids. The aim of this review is to provide basic information to enable further understanding of these toxins and their potential military uses.
- MeSH
- abrin chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- aflatoxiny chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- bakteriální toxiny otrava MeSH
- batrachotoxiny chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- biologické bojové látky * MeSH
- biologické toxiny * otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- botulotoxiny chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mořské toxiny otrava MeSH
- mykotoxiny otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- otrava * prevence a kontrola terapie MeSH
- ricin chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- saxitoxin chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- shiga toxiny chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- T-2 toxin chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- tetrodotoxin chemie otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- toxoidy otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- živočišné jedy otrava škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
